Job Discussion Forums

[lou_c]

What's the harm of a ringing cell phone? I find it hard to believe that this question is serious!

A class is necessarily a special environment. It is predicated on there being a teacher and a group of students. At least part of the time, the students will be listening to the teacher. The social dynamic of that part of the class is broken by the instrusion of external communication, whether it's a cell phone, an announcement over a loud speaker, a fire alarm, the door being opened, or any other outside interruption. Some interruptions are justified, e.g. fire alarms, but cell phones ringing are completely under the control of cell phone owners, who have supposedly chosen to be in the class.

A class can't operate without structure. It's up to the teacher to create the structure. Students that don't want to live within that structure shouldn't be there. In my experience as a regular classroom teacher, students need and appreciate a well structured class as much as the teacher.

[lou_c]

[Russell123]

Well, I commend Malsol for caring enough and having enough pofessional pride to put in the effort it takes to run a tight ship. And any help these students can get in 'civics' will only help this country. It sounds like you need more rules for University kids than i need for my 8 year-olds!

That being said, I think everyone needs to teach to their strengths, and this includes classroom management. I get by with very few explicit rules, which I always try to state affirmatively. (eg "Students are expect to treat their fellow students with kindness and respect.", etc.) Maybe sounds a bit wishy washy, but I find young kids respond to it, and it's easier to get them to agree on the rules from day one.

Incedentally, I actually had a 7-year-old whose cell phone went off during class. Cracked me up, but I can see it being a nightmare with older kids.

[Roger]

In HONG KONG they are now implementing changes to the rooms that hold students sitting exams - these rooms must have scramblers to disrupt incoming phone communications because students invariably resort to using their cellphones to get answers for their multiple-choice questions from someone posted outside.

I personally am very intolerant of the use of cell phones in my classes but it's not impossible to instill in students a minimum of respect: I leave no doubt in them that anyone breaking the class code will be dealt with mercilessly - I would seize their phone and speak to the caller or called!
That threat has so far worked wonderfully!

[latefordinner]

Well noted, Russell123.
FWIW, I have had a strict policy for the past 2 years. On a first offence, I take away the phone/comicbook/homework/whatever, and the student can have it back at the end of class. Second offence, the student comes to see me at the end of the day. Third, I open the window and throw it across the street. Where I am now, the street is about a quarter mile away, too far for my old arm, but there's this big pond in front of our new building. I have students wagering on whether I can throw a cell phone past the pond or not. So far I haven't had a chance to show them what I can do.

[pandasteak]

by all means, malsol, go for it.

I don't agree with all your rules, but i can respect ya for trying to run proper show.

Personally I love failing kids (who deserve to fail, despite your best efforts to bring them up a few notches). It often comes as a shock to them for some reason, and I can't help but enjoy their surprise.

[vikdk]

wow u guys are tough - but then it's student aint it, not the bosses:lol:

[InTime]

Malsol/others:

Could you please relate some more INFO regarding students' responses to Socratic approaches? Thanks

[Super Mario]

Congratulations, Professor Malsol. You might like to tell us about your doctorate, and which branch of linguistics you specialise in, not to mention giving a brief bibliography of your publications. Being a control freak does not replace pedagogy.
And don't try your "you know nothing about teaching and I pity your students" poo on me.

[Malsol]

[Super Mario]

[vikdk]

don't ignore and stonewall - that's a Clark Griswald tactic - but saying that you can use a Clark type strategy - ask SM what are the alternatives, to being a classroom control freak, and repeat asking this, posting after posting, even if an answer has been given, untill SM looses steam

[Ger]

It seems to me that the OP felt exasperated by the particular student's behaviour, so the teacher felt justified to "go to war" against that student. The student got the upper hand in that situation because the student was able to provoke the teacher to lose control. The teacher believes that he/she dealt with the situation appropriately and professionally but I think that the teacher should have used a video to film the student's behaviour and then after the lesson have a meeting with the student, show him/her the video and ask him/her how he/she could help him/herself to improve his learning skills. The disturbance was created by both parties.

I understand that classroom rules are necessary, but I think teachers' have to ask themselves some questions about the relationship between classroom management and pedagogy. For example, the OP said the student has been expelled, the teacher sparked this result, yet the teacher says that he "cares" about the student. With this kind of "caring" who needs "neglect"?

Classroom management is not just about telling the students the rules, who knows, maybe the student didn't understand the rules, perhaps he/she thought that sitting quietly using his/her gameboy was not breaking any rules and was not disturbing anyone else, classroom management is about teachers teaching the meaning of the rules patiently and continuously.

While watching a film, perhaps the students should have had worksheets to keep they interested and engaged in listening tasks or comprehension activities.

Of course, I am glad I was not in that situation and I sympathise with the teacher.

[Super Mario]

[petergunn]

Some questions.
Where does Malsol teach?
Was he disbarred from a Law career for forcing his housekeepers to run naked through the neighborhood?
How long has he been teaching in China?
Where did he learn to spell?